It was another busy week for Lancashire’s emergency services as police, fire and ambulance crews dealt with a number of serious incidents across the region.
From a woman killed in an hit and run on the M6 to a man charged with stabbing his wife to death - these were the week’s tragic headlines...
7. Teenager found with machetes, axe and knives in rucksack
A 17-year-old boy from Preston was arrested after three machetes, an axe, and a lock knife were found inside a rucksack dumped in a street in Blackpool.
Police officers were on foot patrol in Kent Road when they were made aware of a male who had left a rucksack on a nearby road.
After locating the rucksack on Bethesda Road, officers discovered three machetes, an axe, and a lock knife inside.
Officers located the teenager and, when searched, he was found to be in possession of a lock knife.
The 17-year-old, from Preston, was arrested for possession of a bladed article and taken into custody.
8. Quad bikers arrested after police chase
Two men were arrested after police chased a speeding quad bike through Thornton, Blackpool and Poulton on Sunday.
The police helicopter joined the search for the pair, with the pursuit beginning at the BP petrol station in Fleetwood Road North.
The speeding quad was chased as it headed towards Blackpool - weaving in and out of traffic as the police chopper gave chase using its night vision camera.
The chopper shone its spotlight on streets and fields as the chase continued into the early hours before the quad bike was brought to a stop near Baines School in High Cross Road, Poulton.
Lancashire Police said two suspects, aged 22 and 18, were arrested and taken into custody for interview.
A spokesperson for the force said: “A 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man are in custody on suspicion of dangerous driving, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.”
9. Man charged after police raid cannabis farm
Police were called to a disturbance on Yorkshire Street, Blackpool in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Officers attended and arrested two males. Upon entering a nearby property, officers found a cannabis grow spread across three floors.
Electricity North West later attended to make the premise safe, and the illegal grow was dismantled.
Ardit Hoxha, 36, of no fixed address, has since been charged with production of a controlled drug and is due to appear in court today. A male, 30, from County Durham, who was arrested, has since been bailed.
10. Unlicensed tattoo artist fined for ‘unhygienic and unsafe practices’
An unlicensed tattoo artist in Rossendale was ordered to pay almost £2,000 in fines and costs due to “unhygienic and unsafe practices”.
Steven Howarth, 34, was convicted at Burnley Magistrates’ Court and was fined £1,000, with an additional £400 victim surcharge and £510 in costs.
Howarth, of Burnley Road, Crawshawbooth, was advertising his services under the name Inkflicted.
Environmental Health and Public Protection Officers, accompanied by police, visited the business in August 2023.
They subsequently found a “number of unhygienic practices and breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 had occurred”.
A prohibition notice was served but despite ongoing efforts to obtain compliance, the unregistered tattooing continued.
Mr Howarth was found guilty by the court of carrying on the business without being registered.
11. Lorry driver charged with drink driving on M6
The driver of a 44-tonne HGV was charged with drink driving on the M6 near Lancaster.
On Sunday, April 7, the lorry driver failed to stop for officers, but was brought to a stop by the Road Policing Unit.
The driver was breathalysed and was found to be almost three times over the limit.
James Tulloch, 52, from Cornwall, has since been charged with driving a motor vehicle above the legal limit and failing to stop for police.